Deputy Minister of Health Giorgi Tsagareishvili says the government will closely monitor how the introduction of a quota system for foreign workers affects employment trends for Georgian citizens. He made the statement during a joint committee session in Parliament, responding to questions about whether job openings have been freed up for locals.
According to Tsagareishvili, prior to recent regulatory changes, around 62,000 foreign nationals were officially registered in Georgia, though their employment details were not fully traceable. He said a new system now distinguishes between employed and self-employed foreign workers, with many previously unregistered individuals being brought into the system.
He noted that 29,000 foreign workers currently recorded in the system are mostly self-employed individuals who were previously outside official records. The government has also introduced a 29,000-person quota covering sectors such as delivery services, taxi transport, mountain guiding, and tour guiding.
Tsagareishvili added that authorities will continue assessing the “dynamic labor market situation” and evaluate any unintended effects of the quotas on employment opportunities for Georgian citizens, emphasizing that protecting local workers remains a government priority.
